Both the Second Vatican Council and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) encourage full and active participation of the faithful at Mass. One way this full and active participation comes about is through silence. The Instruction on the Mass provides several places where silence is appropriate, to enable the faithful to participate more fully in the mysteries being celebrated. God speaks to us in the silence, that place of interior openness to God’s Holy Spirit moving us and enlightening us in His ways. In silence our hearts become more receptive to the movements of the Holy Spirit. If we are to give our hearts to God, we must have interior silence where we possess our hearts and can thus offer them freely to God.

 

The Church recommends silence at several times: before Mass begins, just before the penitential rite as the Mass begins, after the invitation, “Let us pray” which precedes the Opening Prayer or Collect, before and after the scripture readings, after the homily, and especially after Holy Communion. 

 

The silence before Mass helps us to prepare for the great mysteries we are about to celebrate. Coming several minutes early will help us to slow down, to get in touch with our hearts where we reflect on our hunger or need for God. We can reflect on why we have come to church once again, our weaknesses, our struggles, and blessings of the week. We can ask God to give us an open and docile heart to hear Him speaking, to know and love Him personally, to encounter Him and to be changed by Him, and to worship Him. 

 

There is silence before the penitential rite, where we recall our sins and failing and ask for mercy. Approaching the throne of God humbly enables God to work fruitfully in our lives. If we approach the altar of God thinking we are not sinners, we nullify the action of God’s grace in our hearts, and Mass becomes a waste of time. Approaching God deeply aware of our sinfulness opens us to the action of the Holy Spirit, giving meaning to every moment of the Mass.

 

Silence precedes and follows the readings because, “by the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the word of God may be grasped by the heart and a response may be prepared through prayer” (GIRM #56). YES, the Church wants us to be changed by the word of God proclaimed! If we are not in a space of interior recollection and openness, the word cannot change us.

 

The GIRM especially recommends silence after Holy Communion. Here at St. Mary’s we have an extended period of silence after Holy Communion to help us to more fully appreciate what has just occurred. We have just participated in the event of the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord, and in the heavenly liturgy of the wedding feast of the Lamb! These are not just high flying theological statements, but the very reality of what we believe as Catholics. There is a well of flowing waters running deeply through the sacramental life of the Church. How slow we are to drink deeply of these waters.

 

Outside of Mass we may not have any other place during our week that provides us with silence. Come to holy Mass and enter the silence and hear God speak. God desires to speak to every one of us especially at Mass. Let us help each other to give God that opportunity.

 

Fr. Will